Harper's Submission [Golden Dolphin 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (5 page)

Harper had heard in various conversations on board the
Golden Dolphin
that Natasha Romanova, Gregory Dempsey’s assistant and sub, had once been a Domme. She wondered if she could talk to her about what had made her switch over. She didn’t know if that would help or make her more confused, but it would certainly be nice to have someone else to talk to about it. When they were back aboard the
Golden Dolphin
, she called Natasha’s extension and arranged to have a talk and a drink before dinner.

Harper and Natasha met in the lounge at six o’clock. Natasha was a beautiful woman with long, wavy, light-blonde hair, sky-blue eyes, and what could almost be called a bodybuilder’s body. She spoke with a soft Russian accent, and Harper could see that she still retained a lot of dominant personality traits.

“Thanks for meeting with me, Natasha. I just wanted to ask you some questions about switching from Domme to sub. Morgan has asked me to consider bottoming for him, and I don’t know if I can or want to do it. I understand you’re an ex-Domme yourself.”

“Is correct. I was Domme before I met Gregory, my Master. Change was an interesting process.”

“Did you have a hard time making the change?”

Natasha laughed. “Greg had hard time. Really, it was difficult for both of us, but he had to establish dominion, and I did not make it easy for him. He is very strong Dom, very masculine. He did not appreciate being challenged. With my type-A personality, I did not want to give up control either. You could say we went around and around over it for a while.”

“What happened? Why did you even consider it?”

“I was State-raised orphan in Russia. That background made me very tough customer, but I was missing something in my life. I needed more. I met Gregory at Le Club Beaudelaire in New Orleans. I was there with a member who was sub. Gregory was manager there. When he saw me in scene, he immediately decided that I would bottom for him. I was not so sure. He is very strong personality with much character and determination. Eventually, I agreed to try it. I would never bottom for anyone else—just my Master. He is very special. He is love of my life.”

“What’s special about him? What made you agree?”

“He just knew that I was really masochist who had been trying to be sadist—sort of protective coloration, I guess. He is first man I was ever able to completely let go with. I am not psychologist. I just know what I feel. When I am with Gregory in scene, is like the whole world goes away, and I only see and hear him. He gets inside my head, I guess. I don’t know what else to tell you.”

“Thanks, Natasha. That helps. I guess if I decide to try it for myself, I’ll have to see if I can let go. See where it goes from there. It may or may not work. There’s no way to know in advance.”

“Good luck, Harper. If you find right relationship, right Master, there is nothing like it.”

Newport Harbor, Newport, Rhode Island, on board the Golden Dolphin, November 11, 2013—Monday Evening, Day Two of the Cruise

As the ship prepared to depart Newport and head north to Boston, Morgan and Harper were looking forward to a quiet dinner in the Master Suite. The day had been long and busy, and they just wanted to put their feet up, have a good dinner, and relax. Actually, Morgan had a little more than that in mind. He was hoping to get an opportunity to peel her out of that cashmere sweater and the tight, black jeans that so lovingly sculpted her body. He had enjoyed her company and the mostly relaxed conversation they’d had, but his body wanted more. He wanted to get her sleek, naked body beneath him and drive the cock that had been hard all day into her wet warmth. He poured short brandies into heavy crystal snifters and joined her on the deck.

“How would you feel about getting in the hot tub before dinner? It looks pretty good to me.”

“I’d have to go down and get my bathing suit, and I don’t feel like moving right now.”

“Totally unnecessary—bathing suit optional. No one can see up here.”

“I don’t know…”

“Oh, come on, Harper. We’re adults. I won’t promise not to make a move on you. That would just be insulting your intelligence, but you know you can trust me not to do something you don’t like or don’t want. Even though this is not a scene, we can institute the safe word program.”

She hesitated, and then her brilliant smile broke through. “Oh, God. That steaming, bubbling water looks wonderful. It’s calling to me. Okay. Turn around so I can get undressed.”

“You’re killing me here,” he said, but he did as she asked. He could hear the zipper on her jeans and the soft rustle of her clothing as she got naked. Then he heard her soft sigh as she got into the hot, churning water. He turned around. She was submerged up to her neck. He quickly stripped out of his clothes, stepped into the hot tub, and sat down across from her. He put his drink down on the deck, and he stretched out his arms along the back of the tub and let his head tip back. His feet found hers under the water, and he ran his foot up and down her calf.

He watched from slitted eyes as the steam rose from the water and partially obscured her features. He enjoyed the way her hair curled against her damp skin. Her neck arched back as he continued to massage her lower legs with his feet, and she sighed. This was the most intimate they had been so far, and he was not inclined to rush. Hopefully, they had at least an hour before dinner would be delivered. He planned to eat in front of the living room’s marble fireplace. He wanted to take his time. He could tell that Harper needed to be seduced. A hurried assault on her senses wouldn’t do the trick, no matter how anxious he was to taste her. She was exquisite. But more than that, she was brilliant, sweet, and very vulnerable. His Dom experience told him that she needed something more from him than a quick but satisfying tumble, and he was determined to give it to her.

* * * *

Harper watched Morgan from under her long black eyelashes. The sight of his muscular body gleaming in the reflected light from inside the suite was awe-inspiring. He really was a beautiful man. She wished she had the sexual self-confidence normal women had. At a time like this, she would give anything to be able to shed her baggage and just enjoy the moment.

She was disappointed as his stunning body disappeared below the churning water. The steam quickly turned his wavy hair into shining black curls. She bet he didn’t realize that he looked like Michelangelo’s David. She knew that was fanciful, but she was entitled to her fantasies. She had had more than a few about him over the seven months of the trial and trial prep. If she was honest with herself, she had fantasized about him before that as well. There was something about a beautiful, nearly naked man in a mask that was highly erotic, especially in the sex-charged atmosphere of Le Club Eastside. She had watched some of his scenes and put herself into the role of his sub in her mind. While that was not something she had planned on actually being, the fantasy was compelling. She wondered if she had the courage to try it, if she could actually let go completely and allow him to take command.

Morgan and Harper were bundled into the thick white robes with the
Golden Dolphin
logo on the pockets, and they settled at a small table in front of the fireplace. Their dinners steamed on their plates, and they dove in. Morgan didn’t think he would ever get tired of watching Harper’s enjoyment of the big, fat Maine lobsters served on board the
Golden Dolphin
. She had a sensual enjoyment of her food. He hoped he could translate that to a sensual enjoyment of her body—and his.

They chatted casually during dinner, and when they were done, he poured himself another brandy and her a Bailey’s, which they took back out on the deck. They settled companionably side-by-side on the double-wide chaise and looked out at the moonlight glinting off the whitecaps. The ship had departed Newport at eight o’clock.

He turned to her and grazed his lips over her cheekbones. Then he gently kissed each of her eyelids before he moved down to her soft rose lips. He kept it light. While he was dying to deepen the kiss and take her down with him, he knew he had to give her time. He took her left hand in his and lightly massaged her long, slender, ringless fingers.

“You know I want more than this, Harper, but I don’t want to pressure you. What are you thinking right now?”

She gave a long sigh. “I’m thinking that I wish I was a normal woman and could enjoy this moment the way it deserves to be enjoyed. I should tell you that sometimes I freeze up, panic.” Her openness surprised him as it had earlier that day, and at the same time, he recognized a strength and maturity in her, which fascinated him. He’d like to get his hands on the bastard that had taken the trusting and loving heart of a child and smashed it under his heel.

“You are a normal woman. You just have some challenges to overcome. I’d like to help you with that. I think discovering the woman under the protective shield would be well worth the effort.” He hoped his words were comforting to her.

“Morgan, I’d hate to disappoint—”

He interrupted her with a conviction he hoped would boost her self-confidence. “Harper. You would not disappoint me. If anything, I would be disappointed in myself if I was unable to pleasure you. Please give me the chance to try.” He took her gently into his arms, but this time his kiss was not gentle. It was demanding. He slipped his tongue into her mouth and let the kiss intensify. He felt the shudder run through her body. He was glad that she was not indifferent to him. He pushed on and brought the kiss up another notch. When she sank into this kiss with more abandon than he had ever seen in her before, he rose from the chaise and picked her up in his arms.

“This is your chance to say no. If you don’t, I’m going to do everything I can to make this a memorable experience for you. I promise not to hurt you. If you get scared, just let me know, and we’ll slow down. What do you say?”

“I say yes. I want to try, and I want to try with you.”

He carried her into the bedroom and laid her down in the center of the enormous and very luxurious bed.

* * * *

Harper knew she was taking a big chance. She would be humiliated if she found herself unable to respond, or worse, if she found herself freezing up as she had in previous encounters. She would be heartbroken if she saw the look of disgust in Morgan’s eyes that she had seen before when she had not been the woman her partner had expected her to be. She had never explained herself to anyone before. Maybe she should have. Maybe she should have trusted someone before now, but she had sworn not to put herself in that position again.
Maybe this time
…

Morgan untied the belt of her fluffy white robe and opened it. She was fully exposed to his view, and she felt vulnerable. She caught her breath as he dropped his robe on the floor and joined her on the bed. For a moment the fear rose up and choked her. She had to fight it down or cut and run. She could see that Morgan was aware of her panic. He watched her for a moment and then just brushed her hair from her forehead and looked into her eyes.

“Don’t be afraid, Harper. Don’t pull away from me. There’s no rush, no timetable. Take a deep breath.” He stroked her hair and then ran his hand gently down her back. “It’s going to be okay.” She tried to relax as he just held her and rocked her like a baby while he whispered sweet nonsense in her ear. She knew by the tender look on his face that he wished he could make it all better, take the feelings of hurt and betrayal away.

He pulled her closer to his chest, and the heat of his big body seeped into her. It seemed to take the chill off her heart as well as her body. His nearness was like a drug. She looked into his eyes and saw the desire there. Desire for her. Her heart did a little skip and jump.

He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her gently. He slowly insinuated his tongue into her mouth and explored her thoroughly. She felt his rock-hard cock against her belly. She was ready to bolt again, and then she felt a quiver of anticipation race through her body. She felt a hum in her lower parts. It was not something she had ever felt before. She had never responded to anyone the way she did to Morgan. A little spear of hope seemed to be trying to lodge itself in her heart.
Maybe this time
…

* * * *

Morgan ran his hands down her body, enjoying the feel of her silky, pale skin. The trial had kept both of them in the city over the summer, and he could see that she hadn’t had an opportunity to turn her usual golden brown. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on her soft, round breasts, to cup them in his hands and suck the sweet raspberry nipples. He was trying to go slow, but it was hard. He had wanted her for a long time, but he didn’t want to spook her. She was like a wild bird, ready to fly at any moment. He lowered his mouth to first one pouty tip and sucked before moving to the other. He felt the jolt that passed through her system as he played with her pebbled nubs. This was good, a positive reaction. He kept at it, alternating his lips and his hands as he gently pulled on her nipples. If this was as far as they got tonight, he would take it, but he wanted so much more for both of them. He felt her slowly relax in his arms. He continued his assault with drugging kisses and the soft touches on her breasts, teasing and slow.

Finally, she began to respond. He growled deep in his throat as she began to moan and thrash. God, he was hard. He wanted Harper with every fiber of his being. He put his hand down between her legs and waited for her to panic. When she didn’t, he relaxed a little himself.